Simple Patchwork Cushions from Fabric Scraps

A cushion for every corner

There is something deeply satisfying about turning a bundle of tired shirts, worn aprons and offcuts into something you actually want on the sofa. Patchwork cushions are the perfect smallholding project: they use up what you already have, they can be finished in an afternoon or two, and every one comes out slightly different. If you can cut a straight line and sew a straight seam, you can make these. A sewing machine speeds things up, but a needle, thread and a bit of patience will do the job just as well by the fire in the evening.

The method below makes one cushion cover to fit a 40cm (16in) square pad, using a simple four-by-four grid of squares. Once you have made one, you will find yourself sizing the next one by eye and rummaging through the scrap basket with fresh enthusiasm.

Sorting the scrap basket

Start by pulling out everything cotton or cotton-mix. Medium-weight fabrics behave best: shirtings, old pillowcases, quilting cotton, lightweight curtain offcuts and the sturdy bits left over from dressmaking. Avoid anything too stretchy, slippery or thick, as these will fight you at the machine and pull the panel out of shape.

• Wash first. Give everything a hot-ish wash and dry it before cutting, especially anything second-hand. Fabric that shrinks later will pucker your finished cushion.
• Press flat. Iron each piece until it lies completely smooth. Creases turn into lumpy seams.
• Group by colour. Make little piles of blues, greens, warm reds and neutrals. You do not need a colour scheme, but a loose family of tones will look intentional rather than accidental.
• Mix scale. Combine small prints with plains and one or two larger patterns so the eye has somewhere to rest.

Aim for roughly sixteen different fabrics if you have them, though repeating a few is perfectly acceptable and can tie a scrappy cushion together.

Cutting the squares

For a 40cm finished panel you need sixteen squares, cut 12cm x 12cm. With a 1cm seam allowance all round, each square finishes at 10cm, giving a panel of exactly 40cm. If your cushion pad is a little plumper than its label suggests, cut a 41cm panel instead by using 12.5cm squares — a slightly generous cover always looks better than a straining one.

Cut with a rotary cutter and mat if you have them, or sharp dressmaking shears and a pencil line if you do not. Accuracy at this stage saves unpicking later. Stack the squares as you cut and keep the colour piles separate.

Then play. Lay the sixteen squares out on a table or the floor in a four-by-four grid and shuffle them about until the arrangement pleases you. Photograph it with your phone before you start sewing — it is surprisingly easy to lose your place halfway through.

Stitching the panel

Sew the squares into rows first, then join the rows. This is far easier than trying to build the whole panel at once.

• Place two squares right sides together and pin along one edge.
• Sew with a 1cm seam allowance, backstitching at each end.
• Add the third and fourth squares to complete the row.
• Press the seams of each row in alternating directions — row one to the left, row two to the right, and so on. When you join the rows, the seams will nest neatly together instead of bulking up.
• Pin row one to row two, right sides together, matching the seams. Sew, press, then carry on with the remaining rows.

Give the finished panel a good press from the front, and trim any stray threads. It should measure roughly 40cm square. If it is a centimetre or so out, do not panic — cushion pads are forgiving.

An envelope back, no zips required

An envelope back is the simplest closure there is and involves no buttons, zips or hook-and-loop tape. Cut two rectangles from a single fabric — an old pillowcase is ideal — each 42cm wide by 30cm deep.

Along one long edge of each rectangle, fold over 1cm, press, fold over another 1cm and stitch down to make a neat hem. Now lay the patchwork panel face up. Place one backing rectangle face down on top, aligning the raw edges at the top and the hemmed edge running across the middle. Place the second rectangle face down, aligning with the bottom edge, so the two hemmed edges overlap by about 15cm in the centre. Pin all the way round.

Sew around all four sides with a 1cm seam allowance, going slowly over the bulky corners. Clip the corners diagonally, turn the cover right side out through the envelope opening, and push the corners out gently with a knitting needle or the end of a spoon.

Finishing and everyday care

Press the cover one last time, then slip in a 40cm cushion pad. If the cover feels loose, a slightly deeper pad will fill it out; if it is tight, take a smaller pad rather than risk splitting a seam.

For extra durability, run a line of topstitching a few millimetres in from the outer edge all the way round — it strengthens the seams and gives a crisp, deliberate finish. Scrappy cushions in a busy kitchen or a mudroom will need washing before long, so make sure every fabric in the panel is machine washable and treat the whole cover at 30 degrees on a gentle cycle. Line dry it, press while slightly damp, and it will come up like new.

Make three or four in different colour families and you have a set for the bench by the back door, the chair in the boot room and the seat by the stove — all from fabric that was otherwise heading for the rag bag.